Saturday, December 31, 2011

Papa scheduled a visit for us to a mini-horse farm. Such a fun experience for the kids. This farm has about 80 mini-horses, a donkey and some cats. We got to pet several and learn about them. We enjoyed the time together and seeing the horses.

Owen talked Aaron into a camp-in...too bad it only lasted about 30 minutes before they decided to go to their own beds. Oh well, we'll try again another day. (And just between you and me, I think Aaron was totally fine with sleeping in his bed instead of on the floor!)

Friday, December 30, 2011

We had a great Christmas Day, even though we all had bad colds. This is the first year that Owen remembered Christmas from the year prior and it really made this year a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time talking about Jesus and why we have Christmas. We enjoyed reading the Christmas story around the tree on Christmas Eve.

The kids once again slept in a bit on Christmas Day...all tuckered out from the festivities on Christmas Eve.

Santa came!

Anderson started right away on his stocking and still had unopened items about 3 hours later. Good thing for him he has a big brother more than willing to help him open gifts!

Owen had 3 things on his list for Santa...a shed, a jigsaw, and a headlight.

Santa brought Anderson a bike helmet.

So excited to find a jigsaw in this tool set.

And, very excited about his headlight.

A 'go tarheels' hat for Anderson...he dove right into playing with the new toys.

After Owen opened his jigsaw, headlight and a few other gifts, Aaron asked him if Santa had brought him everything he asked for. Owen said 'Well, he didn't bring me a shed.' Aaron asked him where Santa would put it and Owen pointed over next to the tv and said, 'right there.' Aaron then asked where he'd use the shed. And the wheels started turning in his head as he thought to look outside! And to think that I had been so worried about his looking out of his window before he came downstairs! He ran to the door and was so excited to find that Santa had delivered! He took his jigsaw right out and is ready to go!

The big elf made this super cool peg board...it's on a stand and on wheels so they can move it all around the shed.

Putsin' around...just like his dad does. He was moving things all around.

Aaron's big gift...

Anderson was so excited to get tools of his own that Santa dropped off at Grandma Juju's house and she brought over Christmas Day.

Owen has been working away in his shed. He was excited to move his workbench and lawnmower over from Daddy's shed and hang up his tools.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

We did a Christmas Eve brunch with Aaron's mom and his brother and family. It was a great time!

Anderson would want to play with his gifts after opening them...Owen just wanted to open, open, open. Several times over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Anderson said 'No more gifts.'

After our celebration, Uncle Adam earned his elf-card by helping us get Santa's big gift for the kids in place while they stayed with Grandma and took a nap.

We got together for the traditional Christmas Eve big family gathering at Aaron's Grandma's house. Everyone made it this year, except 1...which means there were 40 people there! The 10 cousin's in Aaron's generation are close in age, and now our children are as well, which makes it a lot of fun when we're all together.

We had a great time at Owen's School Christmas Program. It was so cute to see 230+ kids on stage together for the finale!
Owen was so excited about his program...I don't think I've ever seen him so hyper! He'd been singing his songs at home for me since the school day after Thanksgiving. He sang Joy to the World and a Santa song. He must have used all of his energy up because by the finale, he was pretty mellow.
The striped kids...cousin Madelyn goes to the same school!

Go ahead and mention my child,The one that died, you know.Don't worry about hurting me furtherThe depth of my pain doesn't show.Don't worry about making me cryI'm already crying insideHelp me heal by releasingThe tears that I try to hide.I'm hurt when you just keep silent,Pretending it doesn't exist.I'd rather you mention my childKnowing that she has been missed.You ask me how I'm doing,I say "pretty good" or "fine"But healing is something on goingI feel it will take a lifetime.